A NEW BLOG! Check It Out!!!

What a fantastic opportunity for me!

I have decided to heed the advice of many as well as pursue a lifelong passion of mine which is to delve more into historic properties! Don't fret - Circa Properties is here for a VERY long time and will assist both buyers and sellers whether they are interested in historic property or not. However, as a side endeavor for me, I will concentrate on historic properties.

With that in mind, I have created a new blog that will allow you to journey with me to some of the most fantastic homes of the century as well as guide you through the maze that is purchasing, restoring and maintaining a historic home!

I hope you enjoy and, as always, I am open to any suggestions, comments or ideas of information that you would like to see.

Please visit What's Your Circa and let me know what you think! Don't forget that there are many other avenues that I offer by way of blogs that will help acquaint you with my area and what I do.

• The Pink Oyster - the original and NEVER to be outdone. Ever wonder where the name came from? Ask my son, Liam, he named it and chose the colors so it will NEVER change!


• Life In Wake Forest or Welcome To My Backyard.... - either one will take you to the most informative blog around for everyday life, special events and interesting information about Wake Forest, NC


• What's YOUR Circa? - The newest in a campaign to assist, educate and highlight the value of historic properties!


• Luxury Raleigh Homes - a blog that highlights some of the finest luxury homes that are offered in the Raleigh area as well as news and trends for luxury homes.


• Carolina Dreamin' - Hip City....No Hassles - a Raleigh-centric blog that I have to admit, has been a little neglected lately. What did you expect? I started my own company and had to live life for a little while so - expect that one to ramp up again shortly.

It's been a whirlwind and I am still hanging on for dear life! However, those of you that know me also know that I wouldn't have it any other way.......

~Ciao

PGA TOUR Comes TO Wakefield Plantation June 2 - 8, 2008

The Rex Hospital is proud to welcome the PGA Nationwide Tour to Wakefield Plantation! This will be the 21st year that Rex Hospital has raised funds for the Rex Hospital Foundation through the game of golf.

You are invited to become part of the action. In addition to the thrill of playing in the Pro-Am, volunteering and getting up close and personal with the Pros, hosting customers in hospitality suites and watching championship golf ensure a bright future for this Nationwide Tour stop. Not only does the Tournament boast incredible golf as the pros compete for the $500,000 dollar purse, but this premier sporting event focuses the national spotlight on the community, providing significant opportunities for nationwide recognition of corporate partners. ~ From The Rex Hospital Open website

The Rex Hospital Open will also showcase corporate hospitality at it's finest! You can entertain your clients and best prospects at a premier event. Amateur players are given the opportunity to play with a Nationwide Tour professional and receive a variety of VIP treatment, including:

• Premier Pro-Am gift package & accessories
• Clubhouse Valet Parking
• Golf Bag transfers
• Two complimentary clubhouse mealsAwards for first - third team placement
• Commemorative Pro-Am credential and guest badge
• Commemorative team photo with Tour professional
  

The purse for this event is $500,000 with the Winning Share at $90,000.

Event Schedule:

Sunday, June 1 Pro Junior Invitational 9:30 a.m. TPC Wakefield

Monday, June 2 First Tee of Triangle Cup Pro-Am 9:00 a.m. TPC WakefieldGrand Champions Pro-Am 11:00 a.m. Hasentree

Wednesday, June 4 Official Nationwide Tour Pro-Am 8:00 a.m. & 1:15 p.m. shotgun starts TPC Wakefield

Thursday, June 5 First Round, Rex Hospital Open 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. & Noon - 2:00 p.m. tee timesSplit-tee start (#1 & #10)TPC Wakefield

Friday, June 6 Second Round, Rex Hospital Open 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. & Noon - 2:00 p.m. tee timesSplit-tee start (#1 & #10)TPC Wakefield

Saturday, June 7 Third Round, Rex Hospital Open approx 9:00 a.m. TPC Wakefield

Sunday, June 8 Final Round, Rex Hospital Open approx 8:00 a.m. TPC Wakefield

Trophy Ceremony Immediately following play 18th green

*All times tentative and subject to change

For Tournament Information:
Tournament Office:

The Rex Hospital Open

C/O Octagon

SAS Campus Drive

Building T-1Cary, NC 27513

For TPC Wakefield Plantation Information:

Tournament Site:

TPC Wakefield Plantation

2201 Wakefield Plantation Drive

Raleigh, NC 27614

Clubhouse Phone: 919-488-5100

Golf Shop Phone: 919-488-5200

For more information about Wakefield Plantation please feel free to email meor call me direct! There are numerous styles of homes available and one sure to fit any ones price point! I would welcome the opportunity to give you a tour of the area....
National Spotlight on My Back Yard....

Wakefield Plantation - HOA Too Strict? You decide.....

Well, another story has come across the wire regarding a Homeowners Association and their reign over a neighborhood. For those of you local it comes as NO surprise that we are experiencing one of the worst droughts on the record books! Those of you out of the state? Trust me - it is a daily topic of discussion among residents!

Wakefield Plantation is a 2,200 acre development in North Raleigh. It is a mixed development community that encompasses condos, townhomes, cluster homes and single family homes that range from the low $200's up to $5,000,000. Some of the community amenities include TPC golf courses, tennis courts, community pools and many other recreational facilities. Wakefield Plantation prides itself on being aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Common areas are constantly maintained, pruned and groomed.

There are restrictive covenants that the residents of Wakefield Plantation must abide by. They address many items such as what kind of fence you can install on your property, where you can park your vehicles, etc. For the most part, these restrictive covenants help the community maintain it's conformity. However.....

Wake County has started encouraging the use of rain barrels of homeowners to capture rain to then be reused for purposes such as landscaping. One current resident of Wakefield Plantation decided that rainbarrels would be a water conserving effort that he and his family could utilize to do their part during this drought. Michael Dadian purchased and installed 8 rain barrels on his property in February. Just this past Friday David learned that most of his rain barrels will need to be removed. Why?

“To maintain the visual impression, especially from the street, for our
community,” Greg Barley, with the Wakefield Plantation Homeowners Association, said of the reason behind the rain barrel limit. (to read the entire article please visit WRAL)

This puzzles me in light of a few other recent decisions that impact Wakefield Plantation such as Wakefield Plantation - Will there be new zoning? It would seem according to that decision that the purpose of re-zoning is to protect the water supply of the Neuse River at the old Burlington Mills textile plant.

While I can argue for HOAs and against HOAs, I personally think that, in light of the current drought, restrictions should be somewhat relaxed IF it is to conserve water. Here is another post that came out a few months ago regarding HOAs and water - Please file this under "You Gotta Be Kiddin' Me!"

Where do you stand on HOAs? I would love to know - again, there are great arguments both for and against.......

Conservatively shucking.....

World Beer Festival Update - TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!

It's Almost Time! This event was HUGE last year and this year proves to be just as exciting! The World Beer Festival makes it's stop in Raleigh on April 26, 2008.

This is the LARGEST celebration of domestic and international beers in the Southeast - there will be over 300 beers from 150 breweries. And, you know what? This years funds will benefit the Downtown Raleigh Alliance - what a great cause.

Tickets for this massive even will go on sale TODAY! General admission is $40 and VIP tickets are $75. With the VIP ticket you will get food, special beers and more. Tickets are limited. There are two sessions available which are Session I - 12pm - 4pm and Session II - 6pm - 10pm.

Local entertainment will be:

• Main Stage 1st Session12:00 - 2:00 Brooks Wood Band(Pop, Rock) / 2:00 - 4:00 Jah Creation (Roots Reggae, Dub, Rock)


• Main Stage 2nd Session6:00 - 8:00 Ascella Vega (Rock) / 8:00 - 10:00 The High & Mighties (Rock, Raggae, Ska)


• VIP Tent 1st session Sean Aitken


• VIP Tent 2nd session Shane Bullis

Numerous vendors will be out - just to mention a few are Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Draughthouse, Blues BBQ and many, many more! Restaurant vendors include The Pit, The Weeping Radish, Raleigh Times Bar and Restaurant and quite a few more delicious choices will be there to tempt you!

Be sure to check out the World Beer Festival Website for the Beer Tasting Line-ups and more information for this exciting event.

Just a little taste of what goes on in My Back Yard....

A little suds and shucking....

NC Hwy 98 Road Project - How Will It Impact Wakefield Plantation

Progress is being made for the 1.5 mile extension of Hwy 98 from US1 to Thompson Mill Road. A few of the highlights of this project are:

• This project is 1.55 miles in length.
• Work involving lane closures, narrowing lanes, and/or stopping traffic will not be permitted between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• This project will include a re-alignment of Falls of the Neuse Rd and Old N.C. 98.
• A new intersection will be constructed with Old N.C. 98.
• This project will tie in with N.C. 98 just west of Thompson Mill Rd.
• Wakefield Plantation Drive: A new connection to the Bypass will be constructed away from traffic.

For specific lane closures please see the Construction Fact Sheet provided by the NCDOT.

Rocky shucking going on.....